Homestyles

No, when Nicholson's stepson enjoys a night out with the guys or goes on a date, he's likely to head to one of the trendiest spots in town-an intimate little movie theater with six plush seats and a mini-bar. Its location? The second floor of the Nicholson home.

So pop the corn, rip open the Raisinettes and hoist an extra-large Cherry Coke to the latest must-have in Central Florida's luxury homes: the designated home theater.

Custom builders say as many as 80 percent of buyers spending $1.5 million or more on a home are plunking down an extra $50,000 to $250,000 for a first-rate entertainment environment.

"Our customers are expecting it," says Dave Konkol, president of Dave Konkol Homes. "In days gone by, they expected a fireplace and a Roman tub. Now it's a home theater."

The term "home theater," which sometimes is used so loosely as to encompass almost any large-screen television with surround sound, doesn't do justice to some of the miniature movie palaces local builders are installing.

Cloaked in velvet curtains and rich faux finishes and outfitted with motorized reclining leather seats and enough touch-screen control panels to confuse even Mr. Sulu, these elaborate retreats signal a new Golden Age for audiovisual enjoyment.

Better yet, rapidly improving technology and falling prices have put relatively bare-bones home theaters within reach for those of us not named Spielberg.

And the appeal of such a setup extends far beyond solitary couch potatoes. Gregarious types, who would normally rather socialize than vegetate, are now increasing their circle of friends by hosting spectacular Super Bowl parties, church youth group movie nights and "chick-flick" evenings.

"We recently had a lot of houseguests and the home theater was just an unbelievable way to entertain them," says Nicholson. "After dinner, everyone goes upstairs and you enjoy a nice movie. And you're in the comfort of your own home, so you can actually even enjoy a bottle of wine."

Custom builder Robert Vega, president of RJV Homes, was part of a team that designed and assembled a $250,000 home theater for an Orlando cardiologist. Vega agrees that home theaters can enhance time spent with friends and family.

"For the doctor, we actually designed a Game Boy port in the back of the room so his son can play it on a big screen," says Vega. "He has his friends over and they all play. I think having a home theater helps parents keep kids home so they can keep an eye on them."

Of course, for most people the primary reason for investing in a home theater is also the most obvious. Films may be viewed in a theater-type setting without the annoyances that so often accompany an evening in the local cineplex.

"What any movie is supposed to do is draw the moviegoer into a fantasy world where he's able to suspend his disbelief," says Ted Hollander, a sales representative at Absolute Sound. "That's hard to do in a commercial movie theater because of all the distractions, like the jerk with the cell phone sitting behind you. Plus, with a home theater you know you're going to have the best seat in the house because you own the seat."

Some of the first home theaters were in the Hollywood mansions of Depression-era film stars. Studios would provide 35-millimeter projectors and screens for enhancing glamorous parties, says Dave Wilson, president of Wilson Technology.

Until relatively recently, home theaters were still found only in the homes of those who could afford cumbersome, tube-type projectors costing as much as $40,000. Today, Wilson says, small, ceiling-mounted digital projectors can be purchased for a few thousand dollars.

"In addition to the lower cost, I think what really tipped it for the home theater was the advent of the DVD, with its superior picture quality, and high-definition TV," notes Wilson.

Henry Levine, president of Cinema Designs, says a dedicated home theater can be put together for as little as $15,000 to $20,000. He adds that homeowners are increasingly converting extra bedrooms, unused bonus rooms, attic spaces and even garages into home theaters.

"I've done it in my house where I've taken a spare bedroom," says Levine. "It's still drywall, but I have a big screen, some audio equipment, some nice surround-sound and a couple of theater chairs. That, in theory, is a theater. At least it's my theater."

Indeed, an average-sized room-say 15 feet square-can accommodate a perfectly acceptable home theater, including a stereo system, a big screen and four to six oversized reclining chairs. However, the room should be as secluded as possible and relatively removed from the hustle-bustle of the rest of the household.

At the opposite end of the extravagance spectrum is the home theater Levine helped create in former Orlando Magic player Horace Grant's Winter Park home. Costing more than $500,000, Grant's setup included 18 chaise-lounge type chairs, a 110-inch screen and a lighted starry-night dropped ceiling.

Sounds lovely. But before sending out invitations for your first screening, read on. There are some things you'll need to consider when planning what kind of home theater is right for you and your budget.

First of all, does size really matter? You bet it does. The bigger the screen, the better you're able to duplicate an auditorium experience.

A less-than-overwhelming 30- to 36-inch screen can cost anywhere from $600 for a low-end widescreen/flat model to $2,000 for something top-of-the-line. A 65-inch screen, which is an impressive size, can cost $5,500 or more. There are 92-inch screens available for some front-projection sets, but that's probably overkill for an average-sized home.

Then there's the question of front- versus back-image projection and screen type. Front-projection systems are better for large screens but require almost total darkness for a truly brilliant image. As for screen type, there are CRT (cathode ray tube) sets that deliver the goods, but most home theater buyers are choosing either plasma or LCD (liquid crystal display) sets.

When plasma flat screens were first introduced, everyone was amazed by the crisp images but horrified by the prices. The cost has since come down, but plasma is no longer the only game in town. Some technophiles say LCD screens are now comparable to plasma screens in terms of picture quality.

Whichever type you chose, you'll need a widescreen monitor. These monitors use a rectangular 16:9 image ratio instead of the 4:3 ratio used in standard televisions. Having the correct monitor will allow you to watch standard movies in their original aspect ratio without the annoying "letterbox" effect.

And remember by 2007 the high-definition format will be the norm for television broadcasts, so make sure your set is HDTV compatible.

That covers the picture, but how about the sound? For theater-quality audio, you'll need powerful speakers-preferably five of them. That's two in the front, two in the rear and one in the center. You'll also need a sub-woofer for the low-end frequencies.

The receiver, of course, ties it all together. Now even low-end receivers offer features such as automated component switching between your machines, high wattage to your speakers and a universal remote that can be programmed to handle everything from the comfort of your easy chair.

Now sit back, relax and let's start the show. Just don't forget to turn off your cell phone.